As anticipated in Morning Fizz on Monday , Mayor Greg Nickels has gone on the offensive against challenger Joe Mallahan, with a tough new video attacking Mallahan as being unprepared to serve as mayor.

The YouTube video (which isn't slated for TV) is  titled "Joe Don't Know Jack" and accuses Mallahan of being ignorant on issues like how Seattle's stadium tax works; the fact that tax increment financing is illegal in Washington State; the amount the city spends on senior services; and the fact that the city's bike lanes aren't painted with toxic paint. "Joe doesn't know that he didn't bother to vote in six elections for mayor, city council, and governor," the video concludes. "Poor Joe. There's so much he doesn't know."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGztMx3gunc[/youtube]

It's a pretty devastating video. It's also a risky move—an unpopular incumbent attacking a political unknown (and thereby raising his profile, something I noted about Nickels' attacks on challenger Mike McGinn yesterday .) One reason Nickels may be willing to take the risk: Mallahan reportedly has a poll in the field that shows him a point or two ahead of the incumbent.